CRIP ON ADMIRALTY ISLANDS EXTENDED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 58, 9 March 1944, Page 5

CRIP ON ADMIRALTY ISLANDS EXTENDED

NEW ALLIED BASE

N.Z. Troops Prepare Strip

On Green Island

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. American troops have further extended their area of occupation of Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group, and are preparing it as a base. Allied aircraft are now using Momote airfield. These developments are reported to-day by General MacArthur's communique, which adds that several hundred additional Japanese dead have been found.

American ground forces repulsed a minor enemy landing attempt on the west coast.

In northern New Britain, American marines, who landed at. Talasea, are consolidating their bridgehead against strong Japanese opposition. Allied air forces are giving close support, while heavy raids have also been made on Rabaul, New Britain and Kavieng. New Ireland.

In New Guinea Allied troops, who recently landed at Yalau, captured large quantities of enemy supplies at Mindiri, west of Saidor. Allied forces now control the Rai coast to a point 35 miles west of Saidor. On Green Island, Solomons, captured by New Zealand and American forces, an airstrip has been completed and is now in use by our planes.